BRADES, Montserrat (CMC):

Montserrat authorities yesterday said that the lone airport on the British Overseas Territory was open and functioning and that "all islanders and visitors are safe" as officials completed an evacuation of the northwestern districts following an escalation of activities at the Soufriere Hills Volcano.

An official statement said that the authorities have also extended the area that is unsafe to enter and that the Governor, Deborah Barnes Jones, had signed the legal instrument enlarging the unsafe zone.

"This action was taken on the basis of scientific advice and in response to an escalation of risk to certain areas from the Soufriere Hills Volcano," the statement said, warning residents and workers not to enter the unsafe area.

Physical barriers

"Physical barriers have been erected. Some 30 households are affected, as well as businesses extracting construction materials from the area and farmers pasturing livestock. The Royal Montserrat Police Force have put in place an entry system for house owners in the unsafe zone to allow them restricted, temporary access when volcanic activity permits."

Two briefing sessions are planned for today: one to the Chamber of Commerce, one for the Residents' Association in the affected area.

According to the statement, activity at the volcano increased on Monday 'with very strong venting and gases' and that pyroclastic flows from the dome have entered Gages Valley and Tyers Ghaut.

The statement said that ash clouds reached a height of nearly 30,000 feet and that "there has been light-to-medium ashing in the Salem area."